Is anyone else watching the new Sense and Sensebility atm?

[08aGreatYearForCarmenere]

It is good but quite odd as the casting is strangely similar to the film version, ie they all look and sound very alike.

Enjoying it. Willoughby is Dakins in the History Boys. Elinor is a bit Emma Thompsony I agree. But Mrs D is much improved from the film version. I don't think Marianne isn't pretty enough - she never was described as a stunner just pretty and very lively.

I am fairly sure that Willoughby is already known as a bounder and a cad to Brandon but he doesn't tell everyone as it would reflect badly on his ward. Hence the beetling brow and significant glares at Mr W. But I don't think that W knows that Brandon knows....or something like that.

no Brandon finds out after he goes back to London on the day of the outing, he doesn't know before then about anything in particular, tho W may well have a reputation that he is aware of.

Yes, because once Brandon finds out about what Willoughby's done to his ward he calls him out straight away.

And Marianne and Willoughby do clear off for the afternoon to Allenham unchaperoned. (can you tell I've been inspired to re-read the novel??)

Btw - I love Ciaran Hinds in the 1995 Persuasion. He's so manly !

i'm going to have to read the book. i must be one of the only ones on here not to have ever read any jane austen books.

I always feel this too policy - although am unconfident about knowing the mannerisms/voices of early nineteenth century women. But you can sort of tell from the language to some extent.

Worst example to my mind was Keira Knightly showing all of her thousand bloody teeth all the time. (Am reliably informed by Person Who Knows that people did not show their teeth in polite society in the 18th/19th Century, due largely to lack of good dentistry.)

BandofMothers - yes I know what you are saying about Lizzie's sauce, suppose I am really saying Ehle's was the wrong kind of sauce... too much sexual confidence or something.

The books are so much better than the tv/films cos you get the pov of the characters as it is happening. I have not long ago reread P&P, I love it, can't think how many times I have read it. Am thinking of rereading S&S now I have seen it again, but I always am inspired when I see it. This version is sticking to things more faithfully, all the characters are in it, but then they kind of miss out some dialogue, perhaps to make it different, that perhaps should ahve been left in.
The 95 version of P&P is almost completely faithful to the book, which I guess is why it is so long. But I am always disappointed that they never show the after they are married stuff. There is a tiny bit of it in the KK film version of P&p for the US version that you can see on the extra bits on the dvd, they chopped it for the UK version tho.

Perhaps, tho I don't think it was very sexual really, I just don't think she really cared about what he thought. How do you mean that it was too sexual??

Not questioning whether you are right, just wondering what parts you use as exapmle of it, it never struck me that she was inappropriate in THAT way.

Just her really (Jennifer Ehle). Not a criticism of her acting, as I actually thought she did a good job, just the casting.

yes SueBaroo the reason i preferred Kate Winslet as Marianne is that you could see her impulsiveness and impatience, etc, as a bit foolish, whereas this Marianne seems so calm and composed she is just a victim rather than playing a part in her own downfall. I don't think you can beat Emma Thompson's suppressed suffering and composure either [yeah she was a bit old for the part] but don't think Hatti Morahan has quite caught the depth and complexity, though she is an interesting actress.

I am interested in how many people think Emma Thompson was right for the role in the 1995 S&S. She was 36 playing 19 and it really in my view damaged her interpretation of the role. The whole point about Elinor is that she has got sense beyond her years - when she is obviously being played by an older actress you miss that really crucial point.

yes but it translated to modern audiences, as nowadays a 36 year old may face similar marital pressures to a 19 year old in Jane Austen's time.

Yeah but I think it took ET about 10 yrs to write the screen play for it from the book, so when she started it she was 26 and not too old for it, and who could let another actress play the part you had in mind for yourself and dedicated years to the making of.

I hear what you are saying guys, but it spoils the film for me - one reason why this TV version is growing on me. I also like this Marianne better and Mrs Dashwood. After all she was only 40 in the book - but that was never going to work with ET as her daughter!

I'll always remember when I was at college in v early 90s - I went to same college as ET (though years later ) and my English Lit tutor had been hers when she was there. Anyway, one afternoon we were having a tutorial at this tutor's house and her phone rang so she disappeared off for a while. When she came back she apologised for the interruption but had been talking to ET about the S & S screenplay - giving her advice and suggestions and so on!

So I was there (almost) at its birth.

V good point ruty about age - I also think it reads well for this reason

Found the 1st episode on iplayer and not that impressed apart from Col Brandon and Edward. Lacked tension and even the sense of Marianne's concept of romance, didn't really build capture her love of poetry etc

I think the actress playing Elinor is spot on...I dont like theone playing Marianne at all

I thought Jennifer Ehle was really good as Lizzie Bennet. She is almost exactly the way I imagined Elizabeth.

I haven't been able to bring myself to watch Keira Knightly do it, I know I'll hate it.

they are repeating it Sunday 4.10pm, but they didn't the first one . Can you get it from bbc iplayer otherwise ?

Dior - I liked Elizabeth Garvie too, though I thought David Rintoul was just too reserved - though it did mean it made more of an impact when he finally smiled.

I think Amanda Root is a brilliant actor and doesn't get enough parts. She was so good as Anne.

I think it is something to do with age. P&P was always my fave, but the regret and poignancy of Persuasion is something you don't really understand until you're a real grown up.

(Except you Heated, you are obviously like Elinor, old before your time!)

I agree LittleBella - I first read Persuasion when I was about 14 & I just thought that Anne at 27 that really would be old & ugly & had wasted her life!
Now I am almost twice that age, I have a different perspective...

LOL.

It is so shocking that at 27 women were more or less consigned to the scrap heap.

Mrs Dashwood said something I'd never noticed before (not sure if it's in the book): "If I were still mistress of (wherever it is, I've forgotten) no one would treat my girls like this". So true.